Construction of flexible pipe couplings



X 1 L T. 0 a m 4 n 6 e m M 4 w V r 5, .fi. mi 7 2 m A a M G F HAUF CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLINGS Fiat March 20, 1951 Flled Sept 25, 1946 March 20, 1951 a. F. HAUF CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 INVENTOR.

M W M G. F. HAUF CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLINGS March 20, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 INVENTOR 610:6: E Hfil/F flrqvi/yiX Patented Mar. 20, 1951 CONSTRUCTION OF FLEXIBLE PIPE COUPLINGS George F. Hauf, River Forest, 111., assignor to Chicago Metal Mfg. 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 25, 1946, Serial No. 699,214 1 Claim. (01. 285-196) My invention relates to improvements in flexible pipe joints or couplings and an improved method of manufacturing the same; and more particularly to flexible pipe joints or couplings adapted to connect together lengths of irrigation piping.

Piping for irrigation purposes is ordinarily constructed of sheet metal such as galvanized iron in suitable lengths having coupler elements on both ends, usually a male coupling member on one end. and a female coupling member on the other, so that they may be telescopically joined by some quick detachable means, the coupling members also usually permitting limited angular misalignment of the piping to follow the surface terrain of the land to be irrigated. Since such piping is frequently disassembled and moved to new locations from time to time, it follows that the coupler and quick detachable means must, of necessity, be as simple and easy to operate as possible, yet be rugged and durable so that the same will not easily become broken or out of order. Further, since the flexible joints must be fluid proof and capable of withstanding comparatively high pressures, special attention should be given to the construction of the same.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide in piping of the type described, an improved type of coupling means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved process of manufacturing pipe coupling members of the type described.

A further object of the invention is to provide prefabricated male and female connector members capable of connection to lengths of pipe of any description, so that when an order for irrigation piping is received the pipe may be cut to the desired lengths, the connector members attached thereto and the complete piping is ready to be shipped.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with my improved connector members an improved reinforced collar and means of constructing the same, so that it is capable of maintaining a sealed connection under unusually high pressures and in any angular alignment of the pipe sections.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, upon which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved coupler member showing a pair of pipe sections connected thereby;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view thereof taken generally on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of coupler member wherein the gasket is shown in dotted outline;

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view of a further modified form of coupler and gasket; and

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view of a still further modified form of coupler.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate, in Fig. 1, I have shown a pair of pipe sections 9 and II of any suitable or desirable length having associated therewith the female coupler member I3 and the male coupler member I5 respectively. The pipes 9 and II, while they may be formed of any desirable material such as cast iron, wrought iron, sheet metal or plastic, are preferably formed of a comparatively thin galvanized sheet metal piping that is formed from flat material shaped about a mandrel to the desired diameter with the edges welded together in a suitable manner.

A coupler member |3 may be formed with a cylindrical portion I! having a forward end I9 adapted to be inserted into the forward end of pipe 9 and securely welded to the portion 2| thereof. A boss 23 may be mounted upon the top of the coupler member I3 formed with a tapped bore to receive a vertical sprinkling header 25. The Wall of the portion I1 is preferably formed with an inwardly directed portion 21 to form a shoulder 29 at a point spaced from the end 3| of the same.

In order to reinforce the opened end of the coupler I3, I provide a turned-in portion 33 which forms a more rigid and reinforced opening through which the forward portion |5a of the coupler member I 5 is inserted.

To provide an effective seal to prevent leakage of fluid between the male and female coupling members, I provide a generally V-shaped gasket member 35 formed with two annular diverging lip portions 31 and 39 which extend from a thickened apex portion 4|. The lip 3! fits against the inner face of the female coupler member I3, being of such size that its extended edge will bear against the annular shoulder 29 with the apex portion 4| fitting snugly against the turned-in front wall of the coupler which forms the reinforced opening 33. The lip 39 is of a tapered or conical fOI'IIlyWhiCh is adapted to be stretched when the pipes are connected together to permit the insertion of the end I5a of the male coupler member I5. When the pipe sections are connected together by the use of two couplings described and the gasket which I have provided, the gasket is thus stretched about the male coupler member and a liquid tight joint is effected. In addition, When water or other fluid under pressure is passing through the pipe line, it bears against the inner and outer lips of the gasket, pressing them against the surface against which they are resting and, as a consequence, the pressure in the pipe line assists in keeping the gasket in a liquid tight sealing joint. Due to the resiliency of the material of which the gasket member is constructed, it can be seen that the coupler member Hi can be angularly moved with relation to coupler [3 within limits and an effective seal will nevertheless always be kept between'the engaging parts.

To pivotally connect the pipes; 9 and {L together, and prevent their disengagement .in'use,

I have provided a strap member 43 that is welded or otherwise secured to the. coupler. member. l3. This strap is formed with a circular opening 45 to receive a link member 41. The link memberll is adapted to latch over a shoulder 49 of block 5! Welded .or. otherwise secured to the pipe member .gThis constructionmay. .be. generally. similar to triat'snownmgm co ending application forpatent, S. N. 684',304,"now Patent No.. 2,508,716, and

will not be descrikieduinl moie detail herein. It will suffice to point out that the p'ipe'st and H rr'i'ayfb'e disconnectedby .using a hook to reach lunder'theedge 'of link'i and pull the same .up-

.wa'fr'dly. Theflreinforcingfgrooves 55 of the male coupler member were normally .suiiiciently i'spa'ce'd from the entrance, to the female coupler I1, so that. inward motion may be obtained to r ise. the'link 41. Y

'Inforder to, assemble vtogether sections of. irrigation pipe provided with my improved male and ifemale'coupler members, the'male memberis i-nserted throfug'hthe. gasket 35 a sufficient distance so that the'linkil'l can bedropped over the upper edge of the shu1(1er ,49 "of the block onthe jpipe ll. When fluid under pressure is placed in '.the pipe line, thdfluidiwill' have a tendenc not only to' forcethe lips .of' the gasket against the surfaces which .they contact, but it'will also serve to push the endo'f the coupler i5 outwardly, so that the link. 41 is frictionally held against the shoulderls of theblock 5!. When it is desired todi'sconnect the pipe sections, this is accomplished' by hooking under an arm of the link 4'5 and pullin upwardly.

With the construction of the female coupler ,mernberwhich' I haveshown, it can be seen that thecurlinginpf the edge33 of the front wallof the same provides not onlyareinforcement at the opening, but also afseat for the gasket member breaking, bending or distortion of'theopeningof ithe ifemalel coupler member, due to rough handl'ingor frequent usage, is largely eliminated.

' In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have shown a modified form'o'f' the couplermember l3 wherein the -forward wall 3| has a curled in portion 33 anda continuation forming I an annular circular shoultier 33a? With this construction, I provide a more effective seat for the gasket 35 in that it is 's'eand an inwardly turned lip portion 60 which has 3 5. I have found that with this construction the 4 a turned back flange 62 to reinforce the same.

- Withthis construction the, apexof the gasket 35 isalso provided with aseat uponthree sides of the same.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig, 6, I have provided a similar collar member .;..6 L which is provided with a curled in portion 66 that is spun into the groove 50 to seat the collar over ;the open Lend 52 of the coupler. In this con- .struction; the collar is provided with a male coupler;receiving-opening 68 that is reinforced by curling in the edge of the same, as shown.

' 'In the foregoing specification I have illustrated anddescribed several forms of reinforcing structure for the male coupler receiver opening of the -i meles=9u g 1 Wh -En i rther p n t Zwhich the coupler isattached is small, it is sometimes desirable ,to provide;- t l{1e collars shown and l le ibe -a e re n orcemen qr th e e t0 th eqmeare v lr-sme thi lmes p t sheet metal used. In larger size piping and ;couplers therefor, it is often possibleto form;theopened end of the female coupler as shown without the .e'se 'tf a.-reinforcir g collar. This is advisable when the thickness of the. metal used is. sufli- Iciently great to provide sufiicient strength when reinforced so that the opening will not bebroken. While Ihave il lustrated:and describeda specific embodiment of the invention, itwilLbe apparent to those. skilled in the art; that-I have provided e J we er-m mber fo ip sect on a I do not wishto be limited in any particular;

frather what I desire to secure and; protect by Letters Patent of the'Unite d-States is:

The. combination with maie an d femalepipe members constructed of thinsheet metal of an enlarged cylindricalcollar member secured to the, end of .said female, pipe.;member,;.said collar memoer being constructed. of thin-sheet metal and having an 1 open circular -end, an inwardly turned circular ridge formed therein adjacentto and parallel with .said ,open end, a circular -U- bamd a te esc ical m unted ov the open end of said collar member andiastened thereto by having the edge of one of its legs d dow int th ereor .f rmed .by id inward y urned eir u e idee. sa d c p havin a front wall and its other leg formed by a cir- W we tendin PQI-tiQIL a d ortio having a turned-back flange to reinforce the same and a resilient v shapedgasket mounted in and against the inner surface of said collar member and'having one leg positionedbetween said circular ridge and the-front wall portion of said cap, said gasket-having a-portionseated against said front wall portion and a portion seated against the inwardly extending lip portion .whereby-theapex of the gasket -is provided-with aseat onthree sides.

.GEORGE F. .I-IAUF.

REFERENCES .QITED The following references are of record in the fi16 of this patent: 

